Abstract-Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) is a recently characterized cytokine-inducible enzyme critically involved in pain and inflammatory response. However, its role in blood pressure regulation is still debatable. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of mPGES-1 deletion on DOCA-salt hypertension. After 2 weeks of DOCA plus 1% NaCl as drinking fluid, hypertension and sodium retention were more severe in mPGES-1 knockout (KO) mice than in wild-type (WT) controls. The indices of oxidative stress including urinary 8-isprostane and renal thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were only modestly increased or unchanged in the WT mice but more significantly increased in the KO mice after DOCA-salt. Conversely, in response to DOCA-salt, the indices of antioxidant systems including renal expression of superoxide dismutase-3 and urinary nitrate/nitrite excretion were all significantly elevated in the WT mice but remarkably suppressed in the KO mice. Tempol treatment (50 mg/kg per day) in DOCA-salt KO mice produced a marked attenuation of hypertension, sodium retention, and kidney injury. Immunoblotting demonstrated increased renal expression of mPGES-1 in DOCA-salt WT mice. DOCA-salt induced a nearly 5-fold increase in urinary PGE 2 excretion in the WT mice, and this increase was completely abolished in the KO mice. Together, these results suggest that mPGES-1-derived PGE 2 confers protection against DOCA-salt hypertension likely via inhibition of oxidative stress or stimulation of superoxide dismutase-3 and urinary nitrate/nitrite system. Key Words: cGMP Ⅲ DOCA-salt hypertension Ⅲ mPGES-1 Ⅲ nitric oxide Ⅲ oxidative stress P rostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) is a major product of arachidonic acid metabolism, being implicated in pain and inflammatory responses and in regulation of various physiological functions. 1 In particular, PGE 2 is a natriuretic and diuretic factor and therefore is antihypertensive. 2,3 To date, at least 3 major forms of prostaglandin E synthase (PGES) have been cloned: membrane-associated PGES (mPGES)-1, mPGES-2, and cytosolic PGES. 4,[5][6][7][8]9,10,11,12 Mice deficient in mPGES-1 but not mPGES-2 or cytosolic PGES suppress PGE 2 production, suggesting that mPGES-1 may represent the only enzymatic pathway capable of generating PGE 2 in vivo. 13,14,15,16,17 Several recent studies using mPGES-1 knockout (KO) mice demonstrate a major role of mPGES-1 in pain and inflammatory responses. 13,14 The cardiovascular consequences associated with COX-2 inhibitors 18 -21,22,23 have stimulated the interest in mPGES-1 as a potential target of the next generation of anti-inflammatory drugs. 24 Therefore, it is critically important to determine whether mPGES-1 plays a physiological role in the cardiorenal system similar to COX-2.The use of a synthetic mineralocorticoid, DOCA, which is an aldosterone analog, together with a high-salt diet (DOCAsalt), is a well-established means of inducing hypertension. This hypertension model is relevant to human primary aldosteronism. The relevance t...